Early Intervention Foundation announces new chief executive

The Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) has said that public services expert Dr Jo Casebourne will take over the running of the organisation from Carey Oppenheim in August. Oppenheim announced in February that, after three years at the helm, she is taking a break to spend more time with her family.

Casebourne joins from the Institute of Government, where as director of development she leads on public services work. She has previously worked for innovation charity Nesta, where she was director of public and social innovation.

She has also been director of research at the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion, which last year became the Learning and Work Institute.

"At such an important time for early intervention, EIF has a crucial role to play in working with others across the sector to ensure our strong evidence base supports children and families showing signs of risk," Casebourne said. 

"I look forward to working with trustees and the expert and talented staff team to champion the use of effective early intervention in this next phase of EIF's development,"

EIF chair Dame Clare Tickell said: "Jo has tremendous enthusiasm for our work, and impressed us with her understanding of the issues and opportunities facing the organisation at this important time.

"Carey Oppenheim has done a fantastic job building EIF, and we are delighted to have found someone as impressive as Jo, who will be able to take that legacy forwards with such skill."

The EIF is one of seven independent "What Works" centres, that advise the government on specific policy areas by gathering evidence of successful initiatives.